Semiconductor & Computer Engineering
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Difference between revisions of "coprocessor"
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A '''coprocessor''' is an auxiliary [[microprocessor]] designed to supplement the functionality of its [[host processor]] typically with a more specialized set of operations such as [[floating point]] arithmetic, [[string processing]], and encryption. Generally, a distinction is made between a coprocessor and a generic [[accelerator]] in how the interaction between the host processor and the coprocessor is done. Whereas a coprocessor is architectural and is typically connected to the internals of the host processor which then passes it instructions to execute, an accelerator is typically viewed as an independent I/O device which is programmed though an interface. | A '''coprocessor''' is an auxiliary [[microprocessor]] designed to supplement the functionality of its [[host processor]] typically with a more specialized set of operations such as [[floating point]] arithmetic, [[string processing]], and encryption. Generally, a distinction is made between a coprocessor and a generic [[accelerator]] in how the interaction between the host processor and the coprocessor is done. Whereas a coprocessor is architectural and is typically connected to the internals of the host processor which then passes it instructions to execute, an accelerator is typically viewed as an independent I/O device which is programmed though an interface. | ||
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Revision as of 21:26, 20 November 2017
A coprocessor is an auxiliary microprocessor designed to supplement the functionality of its host processor typically with a more specialized set of operations such as floating point arithmetic, string processing, and encryption. Generally, a distinction is made between a coprocessor and a generic accelerator in how the interaction between the host processor and the coprocessor is done. Whereas a coprocessor is architectural and is typically connected to the internals of the host processor which then passes it instructions to execute, an accelerator is typically viewed as an independent I/O device which is programmed though an interface.